Sealing-in machine.



No. 871,097. PATENTED NOV. 12, 1907. M. E. BRANIN.

SEALING-IN MACHINE.

APPLIOATIOH FILED MAY 11. 1906.

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I:No. 8 7l,097.

' M. H. BRANIN.

SEALING-IN MACHINE. APPLIDATIOH FILED MAY 11, 1906.

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, UNITED STATES PATENT ossron.

MARK H. BRANIN, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY,

' A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12, 1907.

Application filed May 11. 1906- Serial No. 316'401- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARK H. \BRANIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, county of Essex, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sealing-In Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for use in the manufacture of incandescent lamps and more. particularly to machines for performing the operation usually "known as sealing-in, that is the operation of sealing the stem which carries the lamp filament to the lamp bulb.

The principles of my invention are of special utility in sealing-in machines for miniature or candelabra lamps but they may also be employed to advantage in of them in machines for hprforming other operations in the manufacture of' incandescent lamps.

My invention contemplates the sealing-in of stems which are ofthe length required for the stem of the completed lamp rather than, as has heretofore been the practice with miniature lamps, of stems formed on the end of a long glass tube, requiring the further operation of cutting away this extension of the stem beyond the end of the bulb and involving a great waste of material. Furthermore the provision of a flare in the stem at the point where the connection to the neck of the bulb is to be made is unnecessary. In addition to these advantages, a machine constructed in accordance with my invention is capable of scaling-in lamps more rap- 'idly than those heretofore provided, thus effecting a considerable reduction in the cost of the lamps.

I have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a sectional elevation; Fig. 2 a top view of a sealing-in machine; and Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional detail views.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a table on which a hollow standard 2 is mounted in a suitable support 3. On the top of standard 2 are blmv-pipe burners 4 supplied with gas and air by pipes 5 and 6 extending through the hollow standard and connected at their lower ends to flexible gas and air tubes 7. A second hollow standard 8 is mounted on table 1 and carries at its end, in the same plane with burners 4, similar burners 9 supplied with gas and air by pipes extending through the standard and connected to the pipes 7.

In the gas and air pipes 7 is a valv 10 the movable member of which is connected by a crank 11 and link 12 to a treadle 13 a spring 14 being arranged to hold the valve normally in the open position. Mounted for vertical movement on the standard 2 is a collar 15 on which is pivoted a roller 16 hearing on the periphery of a cam 17; the latter bein" carried by a shaft 18 mounted in suitable bearings and provided with an operating handle 19; On the upper face of collar 15 is a ball-race for sealing-in machines for other types of lamps and some on standard 2. This sleeve has a pulley 22 formed therein and a belt 23 running on the pulley, and on suitable sheaves 24 communicates rotary motion to the sleeve from any suitable source of power. On sleeve 21 near its upper end is formed a sprocket 25.

Loosely mounted on standard 2 above sleeve 21 and adapted to rotate thereon independently of the s eeve, is a frame 26, carrying aplurality of rotary heads. In the-present instance I have shown four of these heads In the arm of the frame 26 is an'opening in which a hollow shaft 27 is adapted to rotate. On the upper end of this shaft is secured a cross-head 28 in the ends of which are upwardly extending rods 29 carrying at their upper ends a support 30 for a lamp bulb. One of the rods 29 has an opening therethrough and secured thereto in bent around at its upper end and has attached to this end a flexible tube 32. In the cross-head 28 is an opening 33 communicating with the opening in the rod 29 and the inner end of this opening communicates in all positions of the rotation of the cross-head with an annular chamber 33 formed by an upwardly-extending flange on the arm of frame 26 and the hollow shaft 27. A pipe 34 extends through this upwardly-extending sure to the annular chamber. A stemsupporting rod 35 is arranged to slide vertically in the opening in the hollow shaft 27. This rod is reduced at its upper end to form a pin on which a lamp-stem may be mounted and which holds the stem securely. At its lower end the rod is provided with an enlargement for convenience in moving it into position; the rod is held in any posit on to which it is moved by friction, asmall spring being provided for this purpose if desired. The hollow shaft 27 at its lower end is provided with-a head 36 and between this head and the bottom of the arm of.the frame a sprocket 37 is rotatable upon the shaft. Pivotally mounted on the bottom oi'the head 36 is a lever 38 to one end of which is pivoted a pin 39 extending through an opening in the head. A spring 40 connecting lever 38 and head 86 tends to turn the lever on its pivot to carry the end of pin 39 into one of a plurality of openings in the sprocket 37 and thus clutch the sprocket to shaft 27. Rotary motion is communicated to the sprockets 37 from the sprocket 25 on sleeve 21 by a chain 41 running on the sprocket 25 and the sprocket 37 on each of the rotary heads and also on another sprocket 42 carried by a pivoted frame 43 and actuated by a spring 44 to maintain the chain 41 under tension. Mounted on the table 1 are two stops 45 for actuating each of the levers 38 to withdraw pins 39 from clutching relation to sprockets 37 in two positions of the rotaballs 20 forming a bearing for a sleeve 21 which is loose and as they are all alike a description of one will sufiice.

communication with this opening is a tube 31 which is flange on the arm of the frame to carry air under pics 4 table frame 26,.these stops being provide for this purpose with cam surfaces up which the ends of levers 38 are adapted to ride, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4; In order that the vertical adjustment of frame 26 by handle 19 will not affect the relative positions of the stops 45 and lev( rs 38 I mount the stops for vertical movement in suitable guides 46 and secure the stops on the ends of arms 47 radiating from the collar l5.

The innerends of the pipes 34 which'carry the compressed air to the rotary heads extend through an upwardly-extcnding flange on the hub of the frame as shown in Fig. 3. In the standard 2 is an elongated opening 48 adapted to register with the .iuneends of the pipes 34 successh'ely as frame 26 is rotated, the opening being so disposed that it registers with the end of the pipe 34 leading to the rotary head which isbe tween the burners .4 and 9. In the standard 2 and closing the ends of the central opening therethrough are stoppers 49 and 50 through which the pipes 5 and 6 extend. A pipe 51 also extends through the stopper 50 to carry compressed air to the interior of standard 2.

. 1 This pipe, for a portion of its length, lies upon thesurface of table 1, and ata convenient point is provided table frame to arrest the movement of the frame in the proper positions.

The machine is preferably operated by two opera tors one sitting inv front of the rotary head in the position next after leaving the burners 4 and 9 and the other, an assistant, sitting at the head opposite that which is between thoburncrs. The duty of the assistant is to assemble the stems and bulbs in position on their supports and make the air connection to the bulbs and the principal operator effects the seal and removes the completed lamps. The sleeve 21 is continuously rotated by the belt 23 thus rotating the sprockets 37 on the several heads by means of chain 4]. I 'lheheads in front of the operators however are at rest, the-stops 45 having actuated 'levers' 38 to unclutch these heads from their sprockets 37; The assistant'places a stem on the pin at the upper end of the rod and lowers a bulb over the stcm'until it rests upon the support 30. i She then connects the end of the flexible tube 32 to the end of the tubulaturc ol' the bulb and adjusts rod 35 vertically to get the bulb and stem in the propcr relation for sealing. This being done one of the operators turns the frame 26 on the standard 2 and when the frame has moved through nincty'dcgrecs it is arrested by the spring arm 54 catching on one of the strips 55. Immediately as the fran'm begins to turn the lever 38 of the head which was supplied with the lamp-parts is released by the stop 'the glass and guard against breakage by the blow-pipe burners 4 and 9. The assistant operator mounts the lamp-parts on the next preceding head which is then in front of her and which is held against rotation and the erase? I frame is then turned ninety degrees as before. This brings the head which was in the preliminary heater between the blow-pipe burners 4 and .9' the fiames of which converge upon the neck of the bulb and rapidly 1 soften the glass. .The principal operator manipulates handle 19, thus operatingcam l7 and collar'15 to raise sleeve 21, frame 26 and the heads carried by the frame to heat a zone of glass on the bulb neck sufficiently wide to effect a go 4 seal. In order-that this vertical adjustment. of the frame will not release the heads whose rotation has been arrested by stops 45, on one of which the assistant operator is now assembling the parts fora lamp, the stops 45 are arranged to move vertically with the frame by meansof the arms 47 supporting the steps 45 on the collar 15. As the blow-pipe burners soften the neck ofthe bulb the glass walls fall inward upon those of the stem and become joined thereto. As

soon as a good joint is effected the principaloporator presses treadle 13 thus actuating valve 10 to cut down the supply of gas and air to burners 4 and 9 and then by partially or wholly covering the leak-vent 52 in the air pipe 51 she causes air to flow into standard 2 through opening 48 to the pipe 34 leading to the head carrying the bulb which is being sealed and from the pipe to the annular chamber 33, then through tube 33 and the hollow rod 29 and tubes 31 and 32 to the lamp bulb, and the increase in the pressure within the bulb expands the softener] walls in proximity to the seal to give them a rounded and attractive appearance. The leakvont 52 affords a convenient means for regulating the pressure within the bulb with great delicacy for by applying one finger over the vent the leakage of the comprcssed air therethrough can readily be checked to the extent desired. The frame is then shifted through ninety degrees again bringing the complcted lamp in front of the principal operator and the t'readle 13 is released so that the flames will play on the lamp-parts which are brought into position between them. This movement of the frame breaks the air connection to the bulb as the end of the pipe 34 is carried away from the opening 48; also it brings the head to rest as the lever 38 of the head engages the cam surface on stop 45 thus withdrawing the pin 39 from sprocket 37. The principal operator removes the completed lamp from the head andproceeds, before, to effect the seal of the lamp which is then between the burners 4 and 9. Each of the operators performs her duties in this manner as each of the heads is brought around to her by the frame. The

duties of the operators are so simple that unskilled laborers can learn to seal-in lamps on themachinc quite readily and as these duties require little time the sealing-in of the lamps is effected quickly and at small cost. itis unnecessary to provide a fare in the stein at the point where it is to be connected to the bulb-neck as has heretofore been done so that this operation is eliminated. Also the method of supporting the stems permits of making them from tubes of glass which are of the length required for the stem of the completed lamp What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,--

1. In a machine for making incandescent lamps, the combination with a movable frame, a heater, and a movable support for the lamp bulb mounted on the frame and brought within range of the heater by the movement 'of the frame, oi means for controlling the pressure within the bulb in any position of the support.

tatable support for the lamp bulb mounted on the frame,

and brought within range of the heater by the movement of the frame, of means for supplying compressed air to said-bulb during the entire rotation of the support, and a predetermlnedpart of its revolution.

4. In a machine for making incandescent lamps, the

combination with a rotatable frame, a heater, and a retntable support for the lamp bulb mounted on the frame nnd brought within range of the heater by the movement of the frame, of means for carrying compressed air to said bulb in any part of the rotation of the support and during a predetermined part of the revolution thereof.

5. In a machine for making incandescent lamps, the combination with a rotatable frame, a heater, and a r0 tatable support for the lamp bulb'mounted on the frame and brought within range of the heater by the movement of the frame, of a pipeadapted to be connected to the tubulatu're carried by said support, and means for con necting said pipe in any position of the support to a con trolling means carried by the frame.

6. In a machine for making incandescentlamps, the

combination with a rotatable frame, a heater and a rotatuble support for thelamp bulb mounted on the frame and broughtwithin range of the heater by the movement ofthe frame, of a pipe adapted to be connected to the tubnlature carried .by the support, and an annular port in' the frame connected to a source of fluid under pressure in registry with said pipe in every position of the support.

. 7.'ln a machine for making: incandescent lamps, the combination with a rotatable frame, a heater, and a. 1'0 tumble supporl for the lamp bulb mounted on the frame and brought'within range of the healer by the movement of the frame, of a. pipe carried by the support and adapted to be connected to the tubulaturc, means for connecting said pipe to a supply pipe on the frame in every position of the support, and means for connecting said supply pipe to a source of fluid under pressure during a predetermined part of the movement of the frame.

8. In a machine for making incandescent dumps, a

vertical standard, a frame rotatable thereon, a rotary head carrled'by the frame, supports for lampparts on said l head, a stop for arresting the rotatio'n 'of'said head, and

' means for simultaneously adjusting said frame and said stop vertically.

9. In a machine for making incandescent lamps,.u. hollow vertical standard, a pipe extending therethrough, a burner-curred by the standard and connected to said pipe, a frame rotatable on the standard, a plurality of ro;

tary heads carried by the frame, stops for arresting rotation of said heads in definite positions; means for simultaneously adjusting said frame .and said stops vertically, and a second burner mounted in horizontal allnement with the burner in said standard. 4

10. In a machine for melting incandescent lamps, a standard, a burner carried thereby, a frame rotatable on the standard, supportsfor lamp-parts carried by the frame,

means for adjusting the frame axially upon said standard,

and means operative in any adjusted position of the frame for carrying compressed air to said supports.

11. In a machine formaking incandescent lamps, a standard, a frame rotatablethereon, a plurality of heads carried by the frame, means for rotating said heads, means for adjusting said frame axially upon said standard, and means for carrying compressed air to said'rotary heads in any adjusted position of the frame.

12. In a machine for mnklng incandescent lamps, a standard, a frame rotatable thereon, a plurality of heads carried by said frame, supports for lamp-parts carried by said heads, means for rotating each of said heads, means for carrying compressed air to each of said heads during a predetermined part of its revolution, and a burner to heat the lamp-parts.

13. In a machine for making incandescent lamps, a standurd,,a frame rotatable thereon, a plurality of heads .carried by said frame, supportsfor lamp-parts carried by said heads, a rotary member for each of said heads, means for driving said members, a clutch connecting each of said members in driving relation to one of said beans, stops for:

operating said clutches. means for carrying compressed air to each of said heads during the rotation thereof, and a burner to heat the lamp-parts.

14. In .a sealing-in machine, a standard, a frame rotatable thereon, a plurality of heads carried by theframe, means for rotating said heads, means on each of'sald heads for supportlu'g abulb and stem in position for sealing, a

burner to heat the parts, and means for carrying compressed air to the tubulaturc of. bulb supported on each of said heads. 4

. 15. .In a sealing-in machine, a standard, aframe r'otatable thereon, means for adjusting the frame axially of said standard, a plurality of heads carried by the frame, means for rotating said heads, stops for arresting rotation of the heads in definite positions, means on each of said' heads for supporting a bulb nnd stem in position for seniing, a burner to heat the parts, and means for carrying compressed air to the tubulature of a bulb supported on each of said heads. I

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of May, 1906.

' MARK H.- BRANIN.

Witnesses Gm).- V. DELANEY, S, N. Wm'rnnmo. 

